Sources say that India's Assam State has halted its green hydrogen policy, a setback for investors.
Government and industry sources confirmed that Assam, a state in northeast India, has halted its green hydrogen policy, shocking investors who were already suffering from a reduction of incentives for clean energy project. The largest state in the northeast has tried to attract large investments to a region which has lagged far behind the rest of the country when it comes to renewable energy adoption. It has offered financial incentives and exemptions for electricity. Four sources familiar with the matter said that energy firms such as NTPC Green and Larsen And Toubro in Singapore…
Spot prices are lowered by a combination of wind power, nuclear energy and a shaky demand.
The European wholesale electricity prices fell on Thursday due to lower demand and higher wind generation, particularly in Germany. The market was impacted by the bearish factors, which overrode any impact from the tighter solar output. This is due to the rising temperatures expected into the next week that will increase the demand for power. French baseload electricity for Friday fell 7.3% to 51 euros ($59.83 per megawatt-hour) at 0745 GMT. The German equivalent contract dropped 8.4% to 86.8 Euro/MWh. LSEG data shows that the wind power output in Germany will increase from 5.9 GW to 11 GW per day.
Draft document shows that heavy industries will get a price reduction on electricity under the new EU regulations
A draft of the new EU rules on state aid, which are due to be published by the European Commission on Wednesday, revealed that heavy industries would receive a temporary reduction in electricity prices. This is despite criticisms from companies about high energy costs and restrictive green regulations. Eurometaux, a group of metals industry professionals, sent a warning to Ursula von der Leyen at the beginning of this month. The letter warned that the sector was losing its competitiveness in comparison with U.S. competitors and Chinese counterparts.
Japan returns to long term LNG deals on AI boom and national energy plan
The liquefied gas industry in Japan is once again in the spotlight, as artificial intelligence booms and rising costs of cleaner energy drive the appetite for long-term LNG contracts. Japan, which is the second largest LNG importer in the world, has secured long-term deals with Qatar, and other buyers are also securing such agreements. Japan's LNG exports have been falling for over a decade, as the nuclear power plants that were idled following the Fukushima catastrophe began to operate again and renewable energy sources increased. The AI boom will require enormous power consumption from data centres.
Saudi Aramco CEO: Oil and gas is important during times of conflict
Saudi Aramco's head told a Monday energy conference that oil and gas are important in times of conflict, as we can see right now. Aramco CEO Amin Nasser gave his speech at the Energy Asia Conference held in Kuala Lumpur via video link. The oil prices rose last week, after Israel, claiming to have launched attacks against Iran on Friday in order to stop Tehran from building atomic weapons, said that they were meant to prevent Tehran. Over the weekend, fighting intensified. He said that the world was concerned about energy security, despite the fact that Israel and Iran were fighting.
NextEra CEO: Renewables are needed to bridge the gap between expanding gas power and increasing renewables
NextEra CEO John Ketchum said on Tuesday that renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power will be needed to meet the rapidly increasing energy demand in America, despite near-term challenges to increasing natural gas capacities. At the Politico Energy Summit, the head of Florida's power producer stated that the high cost to acquire gas turbines and a shortage in construction workers, along with the tariff costs, will make it take seven years or more to bring new gas-fired plants online. Ketchum stated that "we need a bridge in order to get to 2032, when the gas will be available...
India extends waiver on transmission charges for energy storage projects to June 2028
The power ministry announced on Tuesday that India will waive all inter-state transmission fees for projects involving electricity storage until June 2028. This is in response to the country's ambitious goals of boosting energy storage and achieving its clean energy targets. Power producers are paid by purchasers, who are typically distribution companies. This payment includes transmission charges. The government has announced that it will waive 100% of the inter-state transmission charges (ISTS) for projects using pumped storage to move water up from a lower reservoir.
The IEA predicts that global energy investment will reach a record $3,3 trillion by 2025.
The International Energy Agency (IEA), said Thursday, that despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, a surge in clean energy expenditure is expected to lead to a record $2.89 trillion in global energy investments in 2025. The IEA's annual World Energy Investment Report stated that clean energy technologies such as renewables, nuclear and energy storage are expected to attract $2.2 trillion, which is twice what was predicted for fossil fuels. The IEA's Executive Director Fatih…
EUROPE GAS - Prices hold firm on the elusive Ukraine ceasefire and muted supply
The Dutch and British wholesale prices for gas were slightly higher on Tuesday morning, as a weaker demand was countered by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Also, there was a reduced supply of liquefied gas from Norway and the United States. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was 35.45 euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh), or $11.86/mmBtu at 0836 GMT. This is an increase of 0.48 Euro. The British day-ahead contract increased by 1.50 pence, to 83.00 pence per thermo. Analysts…
Experts say that Australia's investment in natural gas threatens its climate credentials
Experts and two Pacific Climate Ministers say that Australia's approval for a 40-year project extension has undermined its bid to be the host of a United Nations Climate Summit next year, and its green credentials. The centre-left government that came to power in 2022, with a mandate to reform climate policy, has approved Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf Project to continue until 2070. This is subject to a review. The company and energy industry hailed the move, citing the continued operation of LNG plants as an alternative fuel to coal.
Eneos Japan to increase investment in LNG and SAF, but slow down hydrogen
Eneos Holdings' CEO announced on Monday that the company plans to invest more in low-carbon fuels such as liquefied gas and sustainable aviation gasoline, but will slow down efforts for cleaner alternatives, like hydrogen. Eneos has announced a new business plan that will run through March 2028. The plan includes a 1.56 trillion-yen investment, including 740-billion-yen of strategic expenditures aimed at low-carbon, decarbonised and renewable energy sources, as well as carbon capture and storage.
NextEra exceeds profit expectations as the power company avoids trade risks
NextEra Energy's CEO stated that the company beat Wall Street expectations on Wednesday regarding rising electricity demand, as it works to navigate around increasing global trade risks. The rising costs brought on by President Donald Trump’s tariff war threaten to slow down a recent surge of electricity demand, and dent plans for expansion by the country’s power companies. NextEra, one of the largest renewable energy firms in the world, has said that it reduced its trade risk by $150 million, on $75 billion of capital expenditures. This is less than 0.2%.
Africa's top climate negotiator insists on 'no backwards' in commitments
According to the chair of Africa's group of negotiators, given the threat of global warming and progress made so far, there is no other choice than to continue with climate commitments, despite the United States withdrawing from a key international agreement. The Trump administration withdrew for the second year in a row from the historic Paris climate agreement and also backed out of clean energy partnerships that it had signed up with countries such as South Africa. Ali Mohamed, Kenya's Special Envoy for Climate Change…
Belgium's king meets Vietnam's leaders, hydrogen deals signed
On Tuesday, King Philippe of Belgium and Vietnamese leaders signed agreements to collaborate in areas such as green hydrogen. The first visit by a Belgian royal to Vietnam is accompanied by a large delegation of businessmen, academics and politicians. According to Vietnamese state-run media, Vietnam's president Luong Cuong described Philippe's visit as a landmark in bilateral relations. According to the EU Council's website, he urged Belgium ratify a 2019 investment protection agreement signed between Vietnam and the European Union.
The prize is worth billions of dollars, but winning it is the key: Russell
Decarbonising steel is one of the biggest challenges to meeting climate goals. However, it could be extremely profitable for those companies and governments willing to take on the risk. Steel value chain is responsible for 7 to 9% global carbon emissions. It is the biggest industrial contributor, and therefore a primary target for many countries' and companies' goals for net-zero in 2050. About 80% of the steel emissions are caused by one single process. This is the removal of oxygen and other impurities from iron ore to produce pig iron, or crude iron. The process now requires vast amounts of coal.
Vingroup Vietnam plans LNG and renewable energy ventures
Vingroup, Vietnam's largest conglomerate, announced on Tuesday that it is looking to develop renewable energy sources and liquefied gas power plants. This would be the company's first ventures in the energy sector. The state-run newspaper VietnamNet reported, citing documents the company had submitted to the Government, that the company wanted to be added to a revised national power development plan. Vingroup responded to the request for comment by saying it was "interested and studying this issue" and that more information would be provided at a future date.
Finland's Fortum explores options for long-term nuclear power
Fortum, a Finnish utility, said Monday that it would focus on renewable energy sources and nuclear life extension to meet the growing demand for electricity. It will also continue to explore long-term options such as new nuclear generation or pumped hydro. He added that the Nordics will meet this new demand by combining onshore solar and wind power with storage and flexibility solutions, and extending the life of existing nuclear reactors. Fortum has agreed to build pumped hydropower plants in addition to the pipeline of renewable energy projects it already has. The CEO of Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant said.
Polish Cabinet approves liberalisation in wind farm regulations
Polish authorities approved on Friday a draft law that eases the rules for building onshore wind farms. This is a major step towards delivering on a promise made at 2023's election to increase power production using renewable energy sources. The new rules must be approved by the parliament. They reduce the distance between planned installations, and residential areas, but keep permitting restrictions for projects near national parks and natural protected areas. The draft law for onshore wind farms has been adopted by the Council of Ministers…
Polish Minister sees the energy price cap expiring this year
According to Polish Climate Minister Paulina Hnnig-Kloska, the government should be able to lift the cap on energy prices in the final quarter of this year due the falling wholesale prices. Since 2022, Poland has capped power bills to protect vulnerable consumers from the rising costs of energy. It also pays compensation to utilities to offset these costs. The cap has been extended multiple times and is now in place until September. Poland's central banks has repeatedly stated that energy prices are a risk to policy, and that lifting the cap on price could lead to an increase in inflation.
Shell's LNG enthusiasm for Asia is a conundrum of volume vs. price: Russell
Shell's long-term outlook is contradictory, which shouldn't be surprising. Shell's annual LNG outlook was released last week. It predicted that the demand for LNG would increase by 60% by 2040. This is largely due to the strong economic growth of Asia, artificial intelligence, and the need to reduce emissions in heavy industry and transportation. Shell has said that the global LNG demand is expected to rise from 407 millions tons in 2024 to 630-718 million metric tonnes by 2040. Shell's estimates reveal a large potential gap in supply.
